WhatsApp testing new feature to let you accept video calls without being seen

Sometimes when you receive a video call on WhatsApp, you’re just not ready to be on camera. Maybe you’re in your pajamas, maybe your hair is a mess, or maybe you just don’t feel like showing your face at that moment. Right now, when you accept a WhatsApp video call, your front camera turns on automatically. You can switch it off later, but not before the caller gets a glimpse of you. WhatsApp is soon going to change this.

WhatsApp is testing a new feature that lets you accept a video call without turning on your camera, according to a report by Android Authority. Instead of scrambling to turn off your video after answering, you will now get an option upfront—“Turn off your video”—before you pick up the call. If you tap it, the call will start in voice-only mode, and you can always switch to video later if you want.

The update will not only save you from embarrassing encounters but it also has serious security benefits. In some countries, including India, scammers have been using video calls to blackmail people. They initiate a video call, display explicit content, capture a screenshot with the victim’s face visible, and then threaten to leak it unless money is paid. By letting users start calls with video off, WhatsApp is giving them more control and reducing risks from such scams.

The feature was spotted in WhatsApp’s latest beta version (2.25.7.3 for Android), but there’s no official launch date yet. Given its usefulness, though, it’s likely to roll out to all users soon.